The New Jersey Devils (22-11-2) meet the Pittsburgh Penguins (19-10-6) at PPG Paints Arena Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Devils vs. Penguins odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Devils lost a pair of back-to-back games before and after the holiday break against the visiting Boston Bruins. The road has been a little more kind for New Jersey, going 12-1-1 in the last 14 games away from home.
Pittsburgh has dropped 3 in a row, although 2 of the setbacks occurred in overtime, including a 5-4 OT loss against Detroit on Wednesday. The Over is 2-0-1 in the past 3 games overall.
The Penguins meet the Devils for the 1st of 4 regular-season meetings.
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Devils at Penguins odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:22 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Devils +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Penguins -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Devils +1.5 (-240) | Penguins -1.5 (+175)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Devils at Penguins projected goalies
Vitek Vanecek (12-5-2, 2.39 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Tristan Jarry (15-4-4, 2.77 GAA, .918 SV%, 1 SO)
Vanecek allowed 2 goals on 26 shots against the Bruins Wednesday, but he received just 1 goal of offensive support. He has been slipping a little in December, going just 1-3-2 with a 3.00 GAA and .878 SV% in 7 starts and 8 appearances in the month.
Jarry was tagged for 5 goals on 42 shots on the road against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. He has allowed 9 total goals on 78 shots in the last 2 games after yielding just 14 goals in his 1st 7 starts of the month.
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Devils at Penguins picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 4, Devils 2
Moneyline
The PENGUINS (-125) have handled their business against the Devils (+105) in recent seasons, going 7-2 in the previous 9 meetings. The favorite is also 7-2 in the last 9 in this series, too.
In addition, New Jersey has managed to win just once in the previous 9 games overall, while going 0-4 in the last 4 games inside the Metropolitan Division.
Puck line/Against the spread
The PENGUINS -1.5 (+175) are worth a roll of the dice, but go lightly.
Pittsburgh is 0-1-2 in the last 3 games overall, but 4 of the team’s last 7 wins have been by 2 or more goals, while, again, New Jersey +1.5 (-240) has dropped 8 of the last 9 games overall, and it is ice cold.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-115) is the lean. The Under is 6-1 in the last 7 games overall for the Devils, while going 7-2 in New Jersey’s last 9 games on the road. The Under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 games when playing on a day of rest, too.
For the Pens, the Under is 5-2-3 in the last 10 games overall, while cashing at a 6-1-1 clip in the last 8 games inside the Metropolitan Division.
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